Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Just not with your recovery,” Mom said with an air of disapproval. Since Dad’s surgery, he went into the city for rehab three times a week, and he went to the gym to build more muscle in the rest of his body every day. He had learned to walk with his futuristic prosthesis in no time too, but he was annoyed that he hadn’t managed to get rid of the limp yet. Due to the still healing wounds, he couldn’t constantly wear his prosthesis.
Dad grumbled something under his breath. Primo came in wet and dirty.
I raised my eyebrows. That was how I had looked before I’d changed clothes, only with more blood.
“One of the new dogs jumped me from behind, and I did a face-plant.” He gave me a broad smile and pulled me into a hug that got me dirty. “Congrats, big brother. I can’t believe you’re a dad now.”
I couldn’t really wrap my head around it yet either. Mom warmed up some soup while I checked the messages on my phone. Word had gotten out that Ambra was born, and people sent congratulations. Amo and Greta’s message especially meant a lot because I knew how much they struggled with their fate.
“I’ll take a short walk to the oak tree. If Sara needs me, can you come get me?” I asked Primo.
He gave a nod and settled on the couch in front of the TV. “I’ll have to leave in the morning. Because you and Dad can’t do the shift, I have to work more, remember?”
“It’s not like you have other plans,” I said with a wink.
Dad grimaced. “I would work more, but Luca insists I fully recover before I return to my old schedule.”
I left with a chuckle. Once outside in the crisp evening air, I buttoned the jacket I’d borrowed from Dad since my own was ruined and walked into the woods. My heartbeat quickened when I arrived at the oak tree, but it was nothing compared to the crazy pounding when Sara had gone into labor.
I squatted down before the cross that I’d carved in one of the darkest hours of my life. If someone had told me back then that I would find happiness and love, I wouldn’t have believed them, especially not if they’d told me that I’d find both with Sara. I was glad I hadn’t given up, that I’d accepted the struggle and made a promise to redeem myself. In the past, I’d often tortured myself with questions of what-if, but today, I made the promise to stop my mind from going down this spiral of hypothesis. It led nowhere except for madness.
Things were good, fuck, better than good as they were now. I had everything and more than I’d ever wanted. I still wasn’t sure I deserved any of it, but I’d work hard to be deserving of it one day.
The drive back to our apartment was uncomfortable, and Ambra cried half the time, so we repeatedly had to stop. Still, I was glad when I sank down on our sofa with our baby girl. Cara and Growl had taken great care of us, but I wanted to be in our own home, and I was eager for my parents and siblings to finally meet our daughter. Until then, Maximus, Ambra, and I snuggled together on the sofa.
My family visited in the afternoon, and the moment Mom spotted Ambra, she burst into tears, which led to more tears from me, and soon from Inessa and Alea.
I could see Maximus, Flavio, and Dad exchange looks of confusion and had to laugh.
“Tears of happiness never made sense to me,” Flavio said with a shrug as he came up to me and gave me a one-armed hug so as not to hurt Ambra.
“She looks squishy.”
“She’s the most beautiful baby in the world,” Mom contradicted. Dad came over and hugged me too. He didn’t cry, of course not, but I could see that he was touched by the sight. “My little girl’s now a mom. I can’t believe it.”
To be honest, sometimes I caught myself thinking the same. Maximus’s proud and adoring expression whenever he looked at Ambra was almost the best part of becoming a mother.
“Next time, you should stay close to a hospital on your due date,” Dad said with a laugh.
“Who knew it would go this fast?” I said with a shrug. The movement made Ambra stir and open her eyes, then she did her little newborn scrunch. Dad and Flavio pretended to grab something to drink when I helped Ambra latch on and only returned when I was done breastfeeding her.
“Mom, do you want to hold her?”
Mom nodded with wide eyes and carefully took Ambra from me. “She’s the cutest. These chubby cheeks almost make me want another one.”
Dad’s expression made us all burst out laughing.